Florida firm buying Deering Ice Cream

By The Associated Press, Special to the BDN•December 12, 1996 12:00 am

PORTLAND — Stockholders of Terrace Holdings, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., are scheduled to vote next year on the company’s purchase of Deering Ice Cream.

Terms of this week’s deal to purchase the ice cream company were not disclosed.

“We’re thrilled with the possibilities and think there’s a tremendous amount of growth possible in the company,” said Samuel H. Lasko, president of Terrace Holdings. He said the vote by stockholders has been tentatively set for February.

The new owners foresee no major changes in operations at the ice cream maker, and plan to install Deering’s Milton Namiot as Lasko’s successor.

Lasko said a restaurant, catering business and vacation business will be sold to him and his son early next year, leaving Deering as Terrace Holdings’ sole property.

Namiot, formerly president of Boston-based Brigham’s Ice Cream, formed Down East Frozen Desserts in January and bought Deering, which had opened in 1886 in the back of a watch repair and jewelry shop in Portland.